Pediatric Diseases and Conditions

When Your Child Needs Orthopaedic Surgery

Your child is having bone or joint surgery. The healthcare provider who performs this surgery is called an orthopaedic surgeon. This sheet can help you prepare your child and learn what to expect.

Two ways of performing orthopaedic surgery

Depending on why your child needs surgery, the procedure may be done one of two ways. Your healthcare provider will talk with you about your child’s surgery and the approach that will be used:

Open surgery is the traditional method of performing surgery. It is usually done through one incision. This incision is large enough for the surgeon to have a direct view of the area to be operated on.

Arthroscopic surgery (also called arthroscopy) is done through several smaller incisions. An arthroscope (a tube with a tiny video camera and a light) is inserted through one incision. This gives the surgeon a clear view of the area being operated on. Surgical tools are then put through other small incisions to perform the surgery.

Helping your child prepare

The idea of having surgery can be scary. You can help your child have a more positive experience during surgery by preparing him or her in advance. How you do this depends on your child’s needs. Many children’s hospitals have a child-life specialist who can help you and your child prepare. Here are some tips:

Explain the surgery to your child in brief and simple terms. Younger children have shorter attention spans, so do this shortly before the surgery. Older children can be given more time to understand the surgery in advance.

Point out the body part that will be operated on.

Explain to your child that he or she will be “asleep” during surgery. Reassure your child that he or she won’t feel the surgery being done.

Allow your child to ask questions.

Use play when appropriate. This can involve role-playing with a child’s favorite toy or object. It may help older children to see drawings of what will be done during surgery.

Help your child pick his or her “comfort object” to bring to the hospital. This can be any small item, such as a toy, stuffed animal, or blanket. Your child will be able to keep the item until surgery begins.

The weeks before surgery

You will be given specific instructions to help your child prepare for surgery. Carefully follow any instructions given to you by your child’s surgeon. Below are two instructions that are common to most surgeries:

1. Tell your child’s healthcare provider what medicines your child takes. This includes over-the-counter medicines, herbs, and supplements. Your child may need to stop taking certain kinds of medicines before the surgery. This will help to prevent bleeding and other problems during and after the surgery.

2. Make sure your child’s stomach is empty the morning of surgery. Do not give your child anything to eat or drink for 6 to 12 hours before surgery. This means no water or even chewing gum. If your child has regular medicines that have been approved to be taken before surgery, these can be swallowed with a few small sips of water.

The day of surgery

Here is what to expect right before surgery:

Arrive at the hospital on time. You will be asked to fill out certain forms.

Your child will be provided a gown to change into.

A provider called an anesthesiologist or nurse anesthetist will meet with you. He or she will discuss the medicines that will help your child sleep through the surgery. Be sure to ask any questions you have.

You may be asked by several people to confirm which part of the body is being operated on. This is routine and is for your child’s safety. The body part may also be marked with a pen.

Your child will be given an intravenous (IV) line. This gives your child fluids and medicines. Depending on the age of your child, the IV line may be put into the arm or the hand. The IV may be started after your child is asleep.

During the surgery

Here is what to expect during surgery:

Your child will be given general anesthesia. This is medicine that puts your child into a deep sleep.

A soft tube called a catheter may be placed into your child’s bladder. This helps drain urine during and right after the surgery.

The surgeon will perform the surgery using the method that has been discussed with you.

Recovering in the hospital

Here is what to expect after surgery:

After surgery, your child will be taken to the recovery room. This is also called the post-anesthesia care unit, or PACU. Here, monitors will be attached to your child. These monitors watch over your child’s breathing, blood pressure, and pulse.

Your child will be given pain medicine to stay comfortable.

The urinary catheter will likely be removed shortly after surgery. The IV line might stay in place for a few days.

In some cases, surgery is done with your child as an outpatient (the child goes home the same day). In other cases, your child needs to stay one or more days in the hospital. If your child stays overnight, he or she may be moved to a regular hospital room. Ask whether you can stay with your child.

Recovering at home

Here is what to expect once home after surgery:

Give your child prescribed medicines as instructed. Pain control after surgery is important to help with healing, so give pain medicines on schedule.

Schedule a follow-up visit with the surgeon after surgery.

Being active helps your child heal. But too much activity can harm healing incisions. Follow any activity instructions you are given.

If your child needs physical therapy during recovery, this may be started soon after surgery.

Follow any other instructions you are given for your child’s recovery.

Call the child’s healthcare provider

Contact the healthcare provider if your child has any of the following after surgery:

Fever:

In an infant under 3 months old, a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher

In a child 3 to 36 months, a rectal temperature of 102°F (39°C) or higher

In a child of any age who has a temperature of 103°F (39.4°C) or higher

A fever that lasts more than 24 hours in a child under 2 years old, or for three days in a child 2 years or older